PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                21 May 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002070107

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Air Medal in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).

3.  The applicant states that he earned and received the Air Medal, but it is not indicated on his DD Form 214.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214, a photograph of an Air Medal, a citation and award certificate for the Air Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted in the Army on 14 May 1969.  He successfully completed basic and advanced individual training and served as an infantryman in Vietnam from 14 October 1969 through 12 October 1970.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 13 May 1971.

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show the Air Medal as an authorized award.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation which is also not shown on his discharge document.

6.  The applicant provided a certified copy of a citation and award certificate which shows he was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights in Vietnam during the period 1 November 1969 to 2 July 1970.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to the 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Division, the unit was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation by Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 52, dated 1971.

8.  U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal.  It established that passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Air Medal to the applicant.  However, the applicant has provided an award certificate and citation which shows he was awarded the Air Medal on 16 July 1970 for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight in Vietnam.  Upon review, the Board has determined that this evidence is sufficient as a basis for award of the Air Medal.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Air Medal.

2.  While the applicant was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Division in Vietnam, the unit was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this foreign unit award.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Air Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

JLP_____  BJE_____  TL______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Jennifer L. Prater____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002070107	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020521	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0018	
2.	107.0094	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.